‘Siraj bana Superman’ – Fans react as Mohammed Siraj completes exceptional one-hand catch to dismiss Jermaine Blackwood in WI vs IND first Test

On the final ball before lunch of Day 1 of the first Test of the two-match series at Windsor Park in Dominica on Wednesday, Mohammed Siraj made an incredible catch with a soaring dive to dismiss Jermaine Blackwood. Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed both of the West Indies openers and Ravindra Jadeja and Sharaul Thakur each claimed one victim as India reduced the West Indies to 68 for 4.

Jadeja threw the ball full-on off-stump in the 28th over of the first inning as Blackwood attempted to knock it over the inner field and into the air. Siraj, however, had other ideas. Blackwood’s bat made a slight turn as the ball gripped just enough to be played high into the air and loop over the mid-on fielder, where Siraj was positioned. The Indian pacer attempted to make a catch but suddenly reversed course and extended his right hand. Siraj was able to hang on after hitting the ground with his elbows scraped.

Here’s the viral video:

Ravichandran Ashwin had an immediate impact on his retrun

Earlier, R Ashwin returned to Test cricket and immediately had an impact with two wickets. The 36-year-old spinner removed openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kraigg Brathwaite after being brought into the attack after only 40 minutes of play on what appeared to be a placid pitch offering little assistance for the faster bowlers. He had been left out of the World Test Championship final against Australia a month earlier.

While Jermaine Blackwood’s luck ran out when he was beautifully caught by a leaping Siraj at mid-off, seam bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur subsequently had Raymon Reifer caught behind in his first over. One of the two Indians making their debuts, Ishan Kishan, a wicketkeeper, dropped Blackwood on Ashwin’s first delivery. Yashasvi Jaiswal, a 21-year-old, was the other.

Here’s the Playing XI for both teams:

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj.

West Indies: Kraigg Braithwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Jermaine Blackwood, Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Jason Holder, Rahkeem Cornwall, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.

Here’s how fans reacted:

https://twitter.com/Loyalkohlifan_/status/1679162939423756289